How to Spray Paint Old Furniture Hardware: Pulls & Knobs

How to Spray Paint Old Furniture Hardware to Elevate the look of your Furniture and Kitchen Cabinets.

Did you know that you can often refresh the look of your furniture by simply spraying the hardware? Newly sprayed hardware can elevate the look of an old dresser or upgrade the aesthetic of your old kitchen cabinets, even if you have no intention of refurbishing any further. So let’s talk about how to spray old furniture hardware in such a way that the spraypaint will endure and not wear away easily.

Hardware (drawer /doorpulls & drawer/door knobs) get a lot of use, especially on kitchen cabinets, dresser drawers and other functional items of furniture.

Of course, you can purchase new hardware, but sometimes you may love the shape of the existing hardware, and would just prefer it in another colour. First things first you’ll need to remove the hardware from the drawers and cabinet doors. You can also spray paint hinges, if you want to spruce them up too.

How to Spray Paint Old Furniture Hardware Step by Step:

Supplies:

You won't need too many supplies for spray painting your hardware. How many cans of spray paint you need depends upon how much hardware you need to paint. But calculate that you'll likely need to apply 2 coats of paint. This also applies to the primer that you'll need to apply separately if your spraypaint doesn't contain a primer (some paints are 2-in1). If you're spray painting a super smooth and glossy surface like glass, then a bonding primer will help the paint stick better. If you're painting metal hardware then a metal primer will help your paint adhere well. You definitely want the paint to stick well to the surface of your hardware, since drawer and door pulls and knobs tend to get a lot of daily usage.

Where To Spray Paint Old Furniture Hardware: If the weather is dry I usually take a really large piece of flat cardboard into the garden and lay the hardware on it. If there is a strong breeze, it’s best to paint indoors, so that no leaves, bugs, or little bits of garden debris end up stuck in your paint. I prefer to wait until the weather is dry and calm whenever possible so that I don't need to spray paint in the house or garage. It's easier to do outside!

If you must spray indoors, make sure you have plenty of ventilation and wear a protective mask. be sure to protect your surfaces and walls and surroundings. You can make a little spray booth by placing the hardware in a cardboard box a few inches deep, but you'll still need to place the box on a non-absorbant/plastic groundsheet as there is likely to be some overspray. Place the box away from walls/furnishings etc'.

Wear old shoes/clothes to avoid ruining your good ones with paint-spray!

Step 1:

Remove your old hardware with a screwdriver.

Step 2:

Place the hardware in a large bowl or in the sink and clean it with a degreaser or degreasing liquid dish detergent. Don’t skip the cleaning step. If the hardware isn’t cleaned first then the paint won’t stick properly due to grime and grease.

Once clean, rinse it thoroughly to remove all cleaning residue and dry it with a clean dish towel.

Step 3:

Lightly sand your hardware all over to slightly roughen-up the surface. This will allow the primer and paint to adhere better.

You can use a medium grit ( 180 or 220 grit) sandpaper to do this. Fold the sandpaper tightly to get into any grooves or crevices on the hardware. Thoroughly wipe off all sanding dust particles.

NOTE**(If you bought a spraypaint with primer included, then this following step will be for applying your 2-in-1 spraypaint. If a primer is not included in your spraypaint then the following step is applying your primer).

Step 4: Depending upon which type of primer you purchased, apply the primer by spraying or brushing it on. Leave it to dry completely.

If your primer dried with little drips or just not as smoothly as you'd like, then use a fine grit (320 or 400 grit) sand paper to gently sand any little lumps and bumps smooth, then wipe off all of the dust. Apply a 2nd coat if need be. Again, once dry, smooth out any drips with a gentle sanding and wipe away dust.

Step 5: Next spray paint the first coat of your chosen paint colour.

Allow the 1st coat to dry, sand away any drips, then apply a second coat. Cover all angles so that all the hardware gets an even coating.

Hopefully the 2 coats of spray paint gave full coverage. If not, apply a third coat.

If you’ve used enamel spray paint then you often won’t need to spray a separate clear topcoat on your newly painted hardware. Check with the brand to be sure.

If you’ve just applied a general spray paint that isn’t hard wearing, then spraying a topcoat will make the paint job last longer.

Step 6: Spray on a clear topcoat if needed. As long as your spray paint is water-based, you can use a spray can of water -based polyurethane/polycrylic ; their choice of finishes range from glossy to Satin or Matte/Flat. Choose your preference and follow the instructions on the can. A couple of coats will usually be enough, drying inbetween coats. Be sure to check the instructions for your specific brand, so you leave the specified amount of time in between coat applications.